Apparatus for removing impurities from fibrous material

ABSTRACT

Individual fibres, separated from sliver-type fibrous material, are supplied to a spinning rotor of an open-end spinning unit and are freed of impurities in their separated state prior to reaching the spinning rotor. Provided in the path of travel of the fibres is a removal opening, from which the impurities egress and are then transported away by non-pneumatic conveying means, thereby avoiding impairment of the fibre transport, which is performed in a largely pneumatic manner. The conveying means, which travel past the removal opening, are kept at a sufficient distance from the removal opening in order to avoid constructional impairment. The distance between the removal opening and the conveying means is bridged by guide surfaces.

gtes 1 1 [111 3,924,397

Stahlecker et al. Dec. 9, 1975 [54] APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INIPURITIES 3,839,764 10/1974 Clayton 9. 57/56 X FROM FIBROUS MATERIAL [76] Inventors: Fritz Stahlecker, Josef-Neidhart-Str. Primary Examiner D.onald Elwatkms 18 D 7341 Bad Uberkingen; Hans Attorney, Agent, or FzrmCra1g & Antonelll Stahlecker, Haldenstrasse 20, D-7334 Sussex, both of Germany [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: O t, 29, 1974 Individual fibres, separated from sliver-type fibrous material, are supplied to a spinning rotor of an open- [211 Appl 518900 end spinning unit and are freed of impurities in their separated state prior to reaching the spinning rotor. [30] F i A li ti P i i D Provided in the path of travel of the fibres is a removal 9 1973 Germany 2356180 opening, from which the impurities egress and are then transported away by non-pneumatic conveying 52 us. Cl. 57/56- 57/58.95 means thereby avoiding impairment Ofthe fibre 51 rm. (:1. D01H 11/00- 150m 1/12 whih is Performed in a largely Pneumatic [58] Field of Search 57/34R 34 5 56 The conveying means which travel Past the 57/58 moval opening, are kept at a sufficient distance from the removal opening in order to avoid constructional [56] References Cited impairment. The distance between the removal opening and the conveying means is bridged by guide sur- UNITED STATES PATENTS faces 3,777,329 12/1973 Lane 57/58.89 x 3,792,575 2/1974 Doublebsky et al. 57/56 13 Claims, 7 Drawmg Figures 3,797,2l8 3/1974 Landwehrkamp et al. 57/56 X U.S., Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet10f6 3,924,397

US. Patent D ec.91975 Sheet 2 of6 3,924,397

US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 3 of6 3,924,397

US. Patent D ec.91975 I Sheet40f6 3,924,397

U.S. Patant Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 5 of6 3,924,397

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US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 6 of6 3,924,397

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING IMPURITIES FROM FIBROUS MATERIAL rities contained in said fibrous material, whereby conveying means, which take along said impurities, travel past said removal opening.

It is known practice to exhaust removal impurities from removal openings in the area of a separating roller with pneumatic transport means. However this design brings with it the danger of unfavourably impairing the fibre transport from the separating roller to the spinning rotor, which is performed primarily on the basis of an induced draft. In addition, pneumatic means of this type, which extend throughout the entire length of the machine, operate wtih a lack of uniformity and with a poor degree of efficiency. If this impairment is to be avoided, special measures must be taken with the aid of flaps, so that exhausting is only performed when the removal opening is closed. This requires a degree of sophistication and, in addition, also results in impurities being able to reach the spinning rotor during exhausting, which are then not cleaned.

Having the removal openings followed directly by mechanical conveying means has already been proposed, i.e. to have the impurities transported away by mechanical conveying means, which do not influence the fibre transport, without any additional pneumatic auxiliary transport means, etc. In this connection, it is especially favourable to provide mechanical conveying means, in particular a conveyor belt, which travels past one or more, and preferably all, of the spinning units, as the power required for transporting the impurities away is then especially low.

It is the object of the present invention to find a design which is favourable from a constructional standpoint in which it is ensured that the ability of the separating means to be swivelled or to be removed is not imparied by the mechanical conveying means, which extend through the spinning machine in a stationary manner. According to the present invention, said conveying means travel past the removal opening therebeneath and at a distance therefrom, whereby guide surfaces for the removed impurities are attached between the removal opening and the conveying means.

In this development, the impurities fall freely onto the conveying means located therebelow, for which a conveyor belt is preferably employed. In this connection, the clearance can be so dimensioned, in a simple manner, that the separating means, insofar as they are contained in a swivel housing, can be swivelled past the conveying means. In a corresponding manner, with stationary separating means the clearance can be selected in such a manner that said separating means can readily be removed.

In a further development, removable and/or swivel guides are attached to the machine frame or to the housings of the separating rollers for said conveying means, especially for a conveyor belt travelling longitudinally along the machine. This permits an even significantly greater area to be freed beneath the separating means, if necessary, in order to be able to perform fitting work.

In a further development, the conveying means travel tangentially to the separating rollers. This provides the advantage that the impurities coming from the separating roller have a velocity component in the direction of travel of the conveying means, so that the guide surfaces can be designed in a simple manner. In addition,

the conveying means can then be kept relatively narrow.

The above discussed and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description thereof, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. I shows a section through a schematically illustrated spinning unit having an apparatus according to the present invention with separating unit which can be swivelled away;

FIG. 2 shows a section through a schematically illustrated spinning unit having a stationary separating unit and an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a section through a spinning unit similar to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show sections through further embodiments similar to FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the apparatus in the area of a plurality of separating units; and

FIG. 7 shows a top view of a detail of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a supply and separating unit for fibrous material is contained in a swivel housing I, which can be swivelled away, in its entirety, from a spinning rotor 2. The supply unit contains a supply funnel 3, which is followed by a delivery roller 5, operating conjointly with an undercasing lever 4. Delivery roller 5 is driven, in a manner not illustrated in more detail, by a drive shaft 6, about which swivel housing I is pivotally mounted. The supply unit is followed by a separating roller '7, which is not illustrated in more detail and which, in the illustration, rotates counterclockwise at a significantly higher speed than delivery roller 5, and separates the incoming fibrous material. The individual fibres separated by separating roller 7 are supplied to spinning rotor 2 through a fibre supply channel 8 with the aid of a suction flow.

In order .to be able to remove impurities from the supplied and separated fibrous material, there is a removal opening 9 in the area of the periphery of separating roller 7, whereby removal opening 9 has a removal edge 10 in the direction of travel of separating roller 7 and the suction flow. Removal opening 9 is defined by an adjustable insert 11, so that its width can be set, as a factor of the material to be processed, between the completely closed position and a maximum opening position.

The impurities removed by removal opening 9 fall freely onto a conveyor belt 12 located thereunder, which travels longitudinally along the machine and passes by removal openings 9 of all spinning units. Also provided between conveyor belt 12 and removal opening 9 are guide surfaces 13 which, in the illustrated embodiment, are a part of the housing surrounding separating roller 7. These guide surfaces align the impurities spun out of removal opening 9 in such a manner that they are sure to fall freely onto conveyor belt 12 located therebeneath. The distance between the lower edge of guide surfaces 13 and conveyor belt 12 is selected in such a manner that the guide surfaces can be swivelled safely past the conveyor belt when the housing is swivelled away.

Both tracks of conveyor belt 12 are guided on guide pads 14, which are attached to the machine frame 16 with holders 15. In addition, holders are also mounted pivotally about axles 17 on machine frame 16 and retained in the operating position by means of springs 18. It is also readily possible to eliminate one of the two guide pads 14 and to guide both tracks of conveyor belts 12 one above the other on only one pad 14.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, access can also be provided to spinning rotor 2 for cleaning, etc. by swivelling away a housing 19. However in this embodiment only one channel insert 21 is connected with the housing, which can be pivoted about an axle 20, whereby channel insert 21 extends into spinning rotor 2. This channel insert 21 contains an extension of fibre supply channel 8, which leads from separating roller 7 to spinning rotor 2. The other components of the supply and separating unit are arranged in a stationary manner. This provides the advantage that a cylinder, extending in the machines longitudinal direction, can be provided for delivery roller 5, with this cylinder then forming the delivery roller for all spinning units.

In this embodiment, there is also a removal opening 9 in the area of the periphery of separating roller 7 and having a removal edge 10. In this embodiment, removal opening 9 is defined by a swivel flap 22. The impurities spun out of removal opening 9 fall freely via a guide surface onto a conveyor belt 12 located therebeneath at a distance therefrom, which travels past all removal openings 9 of the spinning units of one side of the machine. Conveyor belt 12 is arranged beneath guide surfaces 23 defining the removal opening at a suitable distance therefrom, so that the entire separating unit can be removed as an assembly, without disassembling the cylinder serving as delivery roller 5. This assembly must be able to be withdrawn beneath the delivery roller. In the illustrated embodiment, the pads 24 serving as guides for conveyor belt 12 are attached to the housing of separating roller 7. The attachment is designed as a swivel mount 25 so that disassembly is not impaired by the pads. In this embodiment, the two tracks of conveyor belt 12 travel one above the other, so that only one pad 24 is required in each case.

In principle, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to that shown in FIG. 2. Here, also, there is a stationary delivery cylinder which serves as the delivery roller 5, while the other components of the supply and separating unit form an assembly which can be removed from the machine frame 16 and withdrawn downwardly. The removal opening 9, with a removal edge 10, in the area of the periphery of separating roller 7 has only very short guide surfaces 26 in the direction of removal, said guide surfaces 26 being directed toward a conveyor belt 12 arranged therebeneath at a distance therefrom. In order to prevent the impurities falling down freely to the conveyor belt from being blown away by the air flows generated by other units of the spinning machine, there is a screen which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises an elastic sleeve 27, which is attached to a shoulder of the housing of separating roller 7 and which extends to the vicinity of conveyor belt 12. Here, also, sufficient vertical clearance is provided in order to be able to remove the assembly simply and withdraw it downwardly. Provided for conveyor belt 12 are guide pads 28, which are attached to machine frame 16 at regular intervals. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide pads have the form of a twopronged fork. They are pivotally mounted about a pivot axle 29, and retained in the illustrated operating position with springs 30. After swivelling away pads 28, along with conveyor belt 12, which can then be loosened in the area of a tensioning roller, for example, there is a large free space for fitting work.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, in which the supply and separating unit is again designed as a stationary assembly, the only guide surface of removal opening 9 is the defining wall which follows removal edge 10. [t is practical for the conveyor belt 31, located therebeneath at a distance therefrom, to be arranged in such a manner that it is staggered so far relative to removal opening 9 that the impurities spun out of removal opening 9 fall onto conveyor belt 31 in a straight line or with a slight trajectory parabola. In this connection, the direction of removal opening 9 points generally at the center of conveyor belt 31. In order to provide screening against air flows in this design also, a sheet-metal guide member, aligned downwardly toward conveyor belt 31, is attached to the housing of separating roller 7; this sheet-metal member is preferably of an elastic material. This sheet-matal guide 32 serves as screening against air flows, on the one hand, and as a guide member for the impurities spun out of the removal opening, on the other. This sheet-metal guide can be elastically deformed or removed in order to be able to remove the assembly.

Provided for conveyor belt 31 are guide pads 33, which comprise a singlesection, bent bracket, which is bolted to machine frame 16 so that it can also be removed if necessary. In the illustrated embodiment, conveyor belt 31 has a trough-shaped profile, which largely prevents the impurities from falling off to the side during transport. In accordance with this trough-shaped profile, pads 33 are also bent in a trough-shaped manner in the transport direction of the conveyor belt.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 corresponds generally to that shown in FIG. 4. Here, also, the guide surfaces following the removal edge 10 of removal openings 9 are kept very short. In this embodiment, the size of removal opening 9 remains constant, as its cross section is not defined by adjustable members. Screening against air flows and an addition to the guide surfaces is provided by a sheet-metal member 35, which is designed, in one section, as a guide pad 36 for a conveyor belt 37 located beneath removal opening 9. Pad 36 and sheet-metal member 35 formed of the same component are removably attached to machine frame 16. In order to prevent a fibre tuft or other impurities from being able to deposit on the removal opening during the course of time, which would impair the cleaning effect. brush-like cleaning means 38 are attached on conveyor belt 37 in at least one location, whereby its bristles extend to the area of removal opening 9. Instead of elastic bristles, it is also possible to provide other elastic members which act in a similar manner. In this, and in the other embodiments, it is practical for conveyor belt 37 to be deviated at the area of the ends of the machine in such a manner that it returns on the other side of the machine, thereby transporting away impurities from the removal openings of the spinning units on this side of the machine.

FIG. 6 shows a portion of a spinning machine in the area of two spinning units, in which separating rollers 7 are mounted in such a manner that their axes extend at right angles to the direction of travel of conveyor belt 12. This provides the advantage that the dispersion of the impurities spun out of removal openings 9 can be seen primarily in the longitudinal direction of conveyor belt 12, so that conveyor belt 12 itself need only be relatively narrow and only insignificantly wider that the lower outlet of the guide surfaces following removal opening 9. In addition, FIG. 6 also shown how pads 14, which support conveyor belt 12, can be designed.

As can further be seen from FIG. 6, the impurities are removed from conveyor belt 12 at a drive or deviating drum in the area of the end of the machine. This can be performed by an exhausting nozzle 39, for example, to which it is practical to also associate a cylindrical brush 40, which is driven in an opposite direction to the direction of travel of conveyor belt 12 and which brushes this conveyor belt 12 off. It is then practical for cylindrical brush 40 to be surrounded by a further exhausting nozzle 41, which exhausts the impurities removed there. The simplest solution for removing the impurities is for a scraper 43 to be in a contacting relationship with the conveyor belt, especially in the area of drive or deviating drum 42, whereby said scraper 43 scrapes off the impurities, which then fall into an appropriate container, for example, which is emptied from time to time.

In order to prevent the impurities from inadvertantly falling from conveyor belt 12, it is practical for scrapers 44 to be arranged at suitable intervals above conveyor belt 12, whereby these scrapers 44 direct the impurities collected on conveyor belt 12 toward the center thereof. Scrapers 44 of this type are illustrated in FIG. 7. In order to prevent the impurities from falling off, conveyor belt 12 can have a profile through which its edge area is raised (see FIG. 4). It is also possible for the conveyor belt to have longitudinal grooves, which also prevent the impurities from falling off laterally (see FIG. 3).

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It should therefore be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Having thus fully disclosed our invention, what we claim is:

1. An apparatus for separating fibrous material which is supplied to a spinning rotor of an open-end spinning unit, containing a path of travel for said separated fibres, in which there is an opening for removing impurities contained in said fibrous material, whereby conveying means which travel past said removal opening 6 and take along said impurities are arranged beneath said removal opening at a distance therefrom, and whereby guide surfaces for the removed impurities are arranged between said removal opening and said conveying means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which guide means, which are removably attached in the area of the removal opening, are provided for the conveying means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which screening means are attached between the ends of the removal opening and the conveying means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, in which the removal opening is followed by an elastically deformable sleeve.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, in which a sheet-metal member is attached, as screening means, to a housing surrounding a separating roller and having a removable opening.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, in which a sheet-metal member, serving as screening means for the area between the conveying means and the removal opening, is attached to the guide means of said conveying means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the conveying means have cleaning means which extend to the removal opening.

8. The appartus according to claim 1, in which scrapers are arranged above a conveyor belt serving as conveying means, said scrapers being directed toward the center of said conveyor belt.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which a.

conveyor belt having a profiled cross section serves as conveying means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, in which the profile of the cross section of the conveyor belt is trough shaped.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, in which the profile of the conveying means has longitudinal grooves.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which a conveyor belt whose tracks travel one upon the other in the area between its ends serves as conveying means.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the conveying means travel past a removal opening located in the area of the periphery of a separating roller which separates the fibrous material, whereby said conveying means travel tangentially to said separating roller. 

1. An apparatus for separating fibrous material which is supplied to a spinning rotor of an open-end spinning unit, containing a path of travel for said separated fibres, in which there is an opening for removing impurities contained in said fibrous material, whereby conveying means which travel past said removal opening and take along said impurities are arranged beneath said removal opening at a distance therefrom, and whereby guide surfaces for the removed impurities are arranged between said removal opening and said conveying means.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which guide means, which are removably attached in the area of the removal opening, are provided for the conveying means.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which screening means are attached between the ends of the removal opening and the conveying means.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, in which the removal opening is followed by an elastically deformable sleeve.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, in which a sheet-metal member is attached, as screening means, to a housing surrounding a separating roller and having a removable opening.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, in which a sheet-metal member, serving as screening means for the area between the conveying means and the removal opening, is attached to the guide means of said conveying means.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the conveying means have cleaning means which extend to the removal opening.
 8. The appartus according to claim 1, in which scrapers are arranged above a conveyor belt serving as conveying means, said scrapers being directed toward the center of said conveyor belt.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which a conveyor belt having a profiled cross section serves as conveying means.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, in which the profile of the cross section of the conveyor belt is trough shaped.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 9, in which the profile of the conveying means has longitudinal grooves.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which a conveyor belt whose tracks travel one upon the other in the area between its ends serves as conveying means.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the conveying means travel past a removal opening located in the aRea of the periphery of a separating roller which separates the fibrous material, whereby said conveying means travel tangentially to said separating roller. 